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About Carnaval in Brazil

This is one for the Bucket List. Everyone in the world should experience Carnaval (Yes, it is spelled with an ‘a’, not an ‘I’) at least once in their lifetime in Brazil. Carnaval is about living large and getting all your partying out of your system in preparation for Lent, which is a pensive time in Christianity leading up to Easter.

Personal note from Laura

Carnaval is six days and five nights of dancing, drinking, eating and celebrating. It is the largest party in the world, with Rio de Janeiro at its center. In Rio, samba schools of scantily clad women and men in very ornate costumes compete to be the most colorful and best school. Especially for the poor, this is the one time of the year they get to really shine and many will spend the entire year, (and most of their savings) to create the perfect Carnaval costume. I remember my brother watching the parades, waiting for the inevitable wardrobe malfunctions with the women. There were quite a few, broadcast in real time. It was a teenage boys dream.

In towns and cities away from Rio, local clubs (for the wealthy. I attended Carnaval at the Marilia Tennis Club in the state of Sao Paulo) or neighborhoods (for the poor) host Carnaval dances. Everyone sleeps during the day and dances through the night. It ends at sunrise on Ash Wednesday.

I was sixteen and it was magical. I had a new costume every night and it was one of the few times when you had us kids mixed in with the adults for a full on party. I do recall the last night having to sit and watch as my feet were covered in blisters from dancing so much over the first four nights.

Truly, there is nothing else on earth like Carnaval. In the United States it is celebrated in New Orleans and called Mardi Gras.

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